 JUNE 2025
IN THIS ISSUE:
A letter from Montgomery County's Climate Change Officer, Sarah Kogel-Smucker
Be Climate Smart: Buy Local and Seasonal Foods
Summer is here! With it comes a bounty fresh local produce at our farmer’s markets, food stands, and local grocery stores. Do you know that one-third of the county, 93,000 acres, is an Agricultural Reserve? This reserve is home to more than 450 farms that grow table food crops and local products.
Local and seasonal food is not only delicious, it’s also climate smart. Food transportation accounts for about 20% of the carbon pollution in our food system. By buying local we reduce that pollution and support our local farmers and economy.
So, this summer, take a stroll through a farmer’s market near you, sign up to buy directly from a farmer through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and look for the “local” label at your grocery store. Every bite helps.
Inspiring Other Communities
Montgomery County’s ambitious climate change work is gaining national attention. This June, a syndicated news segment highlighting our Climate Action Plan aired in Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. Thank you for being part of this vital work. Let’s keep leading by example!
Stay safe, hydrated, and well-fed this summer.
Warmly,
 Image from Montgomery County Office of Agriculture Instagram.
Montgomery County is home to dozens of farms that produce fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat products. Check out Montgomery County Farm to Table page for more information.
6/24: 9:00 am - 11:00 am CASH IN ON CLEAN ENERGY: Free, Catered Contractor Info Session
6/24: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm 💡Illumination Station💡
6/24: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Pepco MD Summer Bill Education Webinar
6/26: 11:30 am - 3:30 pm💡Illumination Station💡
6/26: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Let’s Go SOLAR TkPk!
6/27: 6:30pm - 8:30pm Foodie Fridays - Farming: Inputs & Production
7/2: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm💡Illumination Station💡
7/5: 12:00pm-2:00pm Master Gardner's Plant Clinic at the Gaithersburg Library
7/10: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm💡Illumination Station💡
Local climate news and updates from Montgomery County, the State of Maryland, and around the DMV.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Kate Stewart, other Councilmembers, and State and local officials joined together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the 6th District Police Station on June 2. The new Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) station replaces an outdated facility with a new, sustainably designed, energy-efficient building. It's a solar powered microgrid that can keep the power on even when the grid goes down. It is located at 222 Paramount Park Drive in Gaithersburg and serves the Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village communities.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Kate Stewart Celebrate Grand Opening of 6th District Police Station in Gaithersburg
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Last year’s weather didn’t treat the Chesapeake Bay too kindly, if you ask Bill Dennison.
“It was too wet, and then it was too dry — and always too hot,” said Dennison, the vice president for science application at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
Those conditions are part of the reason the bay got a “C” on this year’s UMCES report card, down from last year’s all-time high grade of “C+.”
“The crops didn’t have enough water, so they were not soaking up nutrients,” Dennison said at Tuesday’s release of the report card. “So when it did rain, there were excess nutrients washing into the bay.”
Though this year’s score dropped, Dennison and others were quick to point out that the overall trajectory of the bay is more positive. Of 15 bay regions identified in the report only one has seen a declining trend dating back to the 1980s: the Upper Eastern Shore, which includes the Chester River. Six regions are improving, including Baltimore’s Back and Patapsco rivers, and the rest are holding steady, said Heath Kelsey, director of the Integration and Application Network at UMCES.
Kelsey said the bay has faced “lots of development, lots of population moving in, lots more traffic and impervious surface — and climate change is adding to that, too. But nevertheless, over time, whatever we’re doing is making a difference.”
Photo Credit: Christine Condon/Maryland Matters
Read more here.
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National and international climate change news that affects life in the U.S. and beyond.
We are excited to share the below news and opportunities below. These important grants are offered by both local and federal funding opportunities, and are made available to local governments, universities, community organizations, businesses and individuals.
Maryland Urban and Community Forestry Committee (MUCFC) Grants Program: Applications reviewed on or around February 15 and July 15 annually. Forestry Boards are welcome to apply for assistance with tree planting on public lands or for educational projects about trees in urban environments. The maximum grant is $1,000.
MDOT Urban Tree Program Grant (Fall Planting): Applications due July 15, 2025. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Urban Tree Grant Program (UTP) is accepting applications for tree planting efforts in communities impacted by transportation projects. These grants are offered in partnership with the Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee (MUCFC). A wide range of government, nonprofit, educational, and community groups are eligible to apply. The maximum grant is $5,000. Applications must be approved by the County Forestry Board before the application deadline for submissions to be accepted.
Exciting opportunities available for job seekers. Check out DEP’s Green Job Portal for additional climate and sustainability jobs, including these highlighted positions:
Environmental Regulatory Supervisor (13922, Grade 32) - Montgomery County Planning Department (Wheaton, MD): We are currently seeking an experienced, dynamic, and innovative Environmental Regulatory Supervisor. The ideal candidate must have strong interpersonal skills, expert knowledge in environmental regulations and code, and the ability to successfully lead a team. This position offers a unique opportunity to have an impact on the environmental health and climate resilience of the county. The candidate must also be creative in integrating best environmental regulatory practices while analyzing Forest Conservation, Site, and Preliminary Plans. Occasionally, the Supervisor will present to The Montgomery County Planning Board, using strong public speaking skills. Info here.
Weekend Conservatory Assistant - Horticulture Forestry and Env Ed, MC Parks (Wheaton, MD): Montgomery Parks- Horticulture Forestry and Environmental Education Division is currently seeking a Weekend Conservatory Assistant to help care for plants and provide customer service to visitors inside the Conservatory at Brookside Gardens, a public horticulture display garden located in Wheaton, Maryland. This is a year-round, part-time 30-hours/week position, working all weekends and holidays, as well as two weekdays. The ideal candidate is energetic, enthusiastic about plants and enjoys interacting with people. Info here.
Internship - 38 North Solutions (Remote/Washington, DC): Seeking a motivated and detail-oriented intern to support our government relations team. This early career position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in legislative tracking, client communications, meeting support, and project management within a dynamic, mission-driven firm. Interns will play a critical role in keeping our diverse set of clean energy clients informed and internal teams organized, while also gaining exposure to the policymaking process at both the federal and state levels. Info here.
Policy Analyst, Electrification - Energy Innovation (Remote/Washington, DC): Energy Innovation is seeking a Policy Analyst to support the Electrification team. The Policy Analyst will conduct research into the technologies and policies that enable the electrification of buildings, transportation, and industry (both in the U.S. and globally). They will conduct data analysis, develop recommendations, and communicate research findings through written reports, visualizations, and presentations to policymakers and non-technical audiences. Candidates should have a strong technical background and quantitative skills, excellent writing and communication skills, some experience working on climate and energy policy, and, ideally, understand electric and gas utility regulation. Info here.
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